Analysis Of Transcanadas Proposed Keystone Xl Pipeline

Introduction TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline would move oil sands from Canada and shale oil produced in North Dakota and Montana to Nebraska for further delivery to the Gulf Coast where many refineries are located. This pipeline would be 875 miles of 36-inch pipe with the capacity to transport 830,000 barrels per day. Since the pipeline would cross the US border from Canada to the United States, the pipeline requires a Presidential permit from the state department. This decision is based on whether the department determines that the project would serve the nations best interests, which includes environmental impacts. Our main focus coming from the Keystone XL pipeline is the environmental impacts that come along with it.†¦show more content†¦The shallow deposits are scooped up by electric shovels and then taken away to separate the bitumen from the sand. The waste is then dumped into lakes of pollution. When the oil sands are near the surface it leaves the area co mpletely treeless and when it is harder to extract numerous steps like, steam plants are required to extract. The tar sands oil that they plan to extract is under the world largest intact ecosystems. This area is the Boreal forest in Alberta. The Boreal spreads over continents and many counties. It plays a significant role in the planet’s biodiversity and even its climate. The Boreal represents around 29% of the worlds forest cover and is home to 85 species of mammals, 130 species of fish, 32,000 species of insects, and 300 species of birds. This forest is not only an important part of the natural ecosystem but it as serves as an important carbon sink. The process that goes along with digging up tar sands oil the forests will be destroyed. Since the crude was discovered in 2000, nearly two million acres of this ecosystem have be clear-cut, and if the Keystone XL pipeline is approved much more of the forest will be lost. Not only will the world be losing a precious ecosystem, but it will also lose a significant carbon sink and biodiversity loss. Pipeline Spills The second major environmental impact that will come from the Keystone XL pipeline is the chance of